Serving with our Brothers and Sisters in Singapore

Last March the keynote speaker at our Mission's Leadership Conference in Berlin was Dr. Edmund Chan, pastor emeritus of Covenant Evangelical Free Church and author of an excellent book on discipleship, "A certain kind- Intentional disciplemaking that redefines success in ministry." The church leaders invited us to join Drs. Craig and Alice Ott to equip their missionaries and staff in church planting principles and best practices. We said "yes," and we went the last week of June.

 We had a great week of ministry in Singapore. They kept us very busy from morning until night, but we loved it. There were 110 people attending the church-planting conference. They were from many parts of Asia: Singapore, China, Vietnam, Nepal, India, Thailand, etc.

  Gene and Craig taught 4 sessions a day all week and the meetings went until 9:30 p.m.

Covenant church sponsored the training and invited its missionaries home for it. It is a mega-church of 5,000 that has 90 people on staff. Yet they are sending people to work in difficult places were house churches are the norm, like China and Vietnam. The common emphasis is on starting disciple-making gospel communities, whatever the size! We felt quite honored to be asked to come and they treated us so graciously

 

Linda and Alice had a great ministry! They taught several sessions with the wives, and met several times with small groups and one-on-one. The last day, they had a two-hour Q and A for all 4 of us about all the material that was presented.

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 New friendships were formed. God's Spirit was at work!

 The kids had their own teaching times and fun times. 

Senior pastor Tony Yeo brought several inspiring devotionals. He was preparing for the 50th anniversary celebration of the country. Christians rented the largest stadium in Singapore for a prayer rally.  Most people are Buddhist or Muslim, but biblical Christians are growing in number and influence.

 We thank God for a fruitful ministry, safe travel, new friends and church planters working in a dozen Asian contexts better equipped to plant healthy churches that bring transformation.What a privilege to partner with our Asian brothers and sisters who are responding boldly to the missionary call.